[Read before the Wellington Philosophical Society, 9th December, 1882.]

This species is parasitic in the common magpie moth (Nyctmera annulata); it makes its way out of the insect when in pupa by boring a hole in the hard shell before turning; the pupa of the fly is dark-brown, with scarcely any trace of articulations; it remains in that state about six weeks.

Nemorœa nyctmerianus, sp. nov.

Body black with numerous black hairs and bristles; head with a broad longitudinal furrow between the ocelli extending downwards towards the base of the antennæ, covered sparingly all over with black bristles. Eyes, reddish-brown, with a slight golden pubescence.

Proboscis black, slender, covered at the tip with tawny bristles; palpi deep black, with one or two short hairs. Antennæ less than three-fourths the length of the face, jet-black throughout, destitute of hairs, third joint about twice the length of the first and second together. Style black. Thorax dull black, with many long black bristles round the sides and beneath. Scutellum dull ferruginous, darker towards the mesonotum, armed with several long spines at the sides. Abdomen oval, broader than the thorax and about as long, black with faint bluish reflections; along the anterior margin of the segments there are indistinct grey bands, which are crossed by a similar one running down the middle of the abdomen, the whole of which is covered with shallow black punctures, out of which short hairs rise; long bristles are present on the posterior margins of the abdominal segments in the centre and sparingly on the sides, becoming very numerous towards the apex. Legs rather long and slender, black, the tibiæ fuscous, clothed with short bristles; foot-cushions small, light-brown. Wings hyaline, clouded with tawny towards the base; ribs black, becoming brownish towards the base. Scales pearly-white, subopaque.

Length, 3 lines. Expanse of wings, 5 ½ lines.